Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with electronic message communications capability

ABSTRACT

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided which is capable of sending and receiving electronic messages directly from the user interface of the ultrasound system. This capability permits physicians to send messages, reminders, and diagnostic examination instructions directly to ultrasonographers using the system. The system operator is also able to call a physician to an ultrasound exam by means of an electronic message. Electronic messages can also be used to send and receive diagnostic reports and images, to retrieve diagnostic information such as the system presets for a particular type of ultrasonic examination, and to send and receive information from a hospital information system.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/031,591, filed Nov. 21, 1996.

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/719,360, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,823 Sep. 25, 1996.

This invention relates to improvements in ultrasonic diagnostic imagingsystems which can access data, images, messages, and other kinds ofinformation from other ultrasound systems and information sources.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,823 describes an ultrasonic diagnostic imagingsystem with an HTTP server which enables the system to be accessed andtransmit ultrasonic images and reports over the World Wide Web, enablinga physician to consult the diagnostic results stored on his ultrasoundsystem from virtually any computer terminal in the world. Thiscapability to access an ultrasound system and retrieve information andimages from it may be characterized as "pull" technology, for thephysician is "pulling" information out of the ultrasound system from aremote location. This contrasts with the "push" technology of prior artultrasound networks, where the ultrasound system operator was requiredto affirmatively "push" information out of the ultrasound system andonto a network or frame grabber before the information could betransmitted or used external to the ultrasound system.

In addition to enabling remotely located users to access informationfrom an ultrasound system, it would be desirable to provide theultrasound system operator with the ability to access remotely locatedinformation and "pull" this information into the ultrasound system toaid in the ultrasound examination. For instance, a physician may beuncertain as to the nature of the pathology in a scanned ultrasoundimage. The physician may want to compare the acquired image with imagesof known pathological conditions. This would be facilitated by enablingthe physician to recall a reference image from a library of images ofknown pathological conditions. Such a library may be located on theultrasound system itself, on a local network to which the ultrasoundsystem is connected, or at a remote location.

As another example, the ultrasound system operator may have a particularset of presets he or she prefers to use for a particular type ofexamination. These presets can initialize the setup of the ultrasoundsystem for that type of examination, or perform a predetermined type ofanalysis such as an obstetrical measurement. The operator may havepreviously used the presets on another ultrasound system or stored themon a network storage device. It would be desirable to enable theoperator to recall the presets from the other ultrasound system orstorage location so that they can be automatically implemented for thecurrent examination.

It would also be desirable to enable the ultrasound system operator tocommunicate directly with other physicians and locations. For instance,an ultrasonographer who has examined a patient may wish to call adiagnosing physician to review and make a diagnosis from ultrasoundimages which have just been acquired. It would be convenient for theultrasonographer to be able to call the physician from the ultrasoundsystem, either sending a message to the physician's office or contactingthe physician immediately anywhere in the hospital.

It would also be desirable to enable the ultrasound system operator tohave the ability to transmit acquired images or diagnostic reportsdirectly from the ultrasound system to a physician at another location.This would make it possible, for instance, for a diagnosing physician tomake an immediate diagnosis from the images and reports on theultrasound system, and to communicate the diagnosis and its supportingimages and reports directly to a referring physician, bringing moreimmediate attention to an ailing patient.

It would also be desirable to provide the ultrasound system operatorwith immediate access to the latest information about the ultrasoundsystem and its capabilities. The operator should have immediate accessto the most current information about ultrasound probes, systemsettings, and operating tips which enable the performance of the bestultrasound examination for any pathological condition. It should bepossible for the manufacturer to deliver bulletins and reports with thistype of information directly to the ultrasound system, and for theoperator to quickly obtain this type of information if it is not presenton the ultrasound system.

It would further be desirable for the ultrasound system operator to havedirect access to other types of information on data bases in other areasof a hospital. Information about physicians and patients which isresident on a hospital information system should be accessible directlyfrom the ultrasound system. It should also be possible for the hospitalinformation system to acquire information directly from the ultrasoundsystem, to determine information relating to ultrasound systemutilization or for the preparation of patient records and statements,for instance.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, anultrasonic diagnostic imaging system incorporates electronic messagingfunctions which are operable from the user interface of the system. Theelectronic messaging capability makes it possible for the systemoperator to send messages including patient data to physicians at otherlocations, to call a physician to the examination room, or even to pagephysicians wherever they may be in the hospital or elsewhere. Withelectronic messaging the operator can retrieve presets for specificexaminations from other ultrasound systems or storage locations.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram form an ultrasonic diagnosticimaging system with electronic messaging constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a network by which ultrasound systems have access toa library of reference images and a hospital information system; and

FIG. 3 illustrates in block diagram form the interaction of electronicmessaging with the imaging and control elements of an ultrasonicdiagnostic imaging system.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system 10constructed in accordance with the principles of the present inventionis shown. The ultrasound system 10 includes a number of conventionalcomponents, including a scanhead 14 with an ultrasonic transducer 12which transmits ultrasonic waves into the body of a patient, receivesechoes returning from the interaction of the transmitted waves withinternal organs and tissue of the body, and converts the received echoesinto electrical echo signals. The electrical echo signals areappropriately delayed and combined by a beamformer 16 to form coherentbeams of echo information. The beams of echo information are processedby a signal processor 64 in accordance with the type of diagnosticinformation which is to be obtained (e.g., B mode, Doppler, colorflow).The processed echo information is coupled to a display processor 68 toform ultrasonic images, which are stored in an image and report storagemedium 24, displayed on a display 70, or both.

The operation of the ultrasound system 10 is under the control of acontrol panel 20, by which an operator sends control commands andotherwise interacts with an ultrasound system controller 18. The controlpanel 20 conventionally contains a number of user operable controls suchas a keyboard 22, a trackball 26, and a Select Key 27. The controls ofthe control panel, together with video displayed controls with which theoperator may interact (sometimes referred to as "soft keys") arereferred to as the user interface. The operator may also manipulate theuser interface to prepare diagnostic reports of the ultrasound examsperformed, using a report generator software package which isconventionally stored in the ultrasound system or attached diagnosticsmodule. The diagnostic reports may be displayed or printed out on aprinter (not shown), and may also be stored in the image and reportstorage medium 24.

The ultrasound system 10 includes a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)server 30. The HTTP server 30 is connected to access ultrasonic imagesand reports from the storage medium 24, and makes the system's imagesand reports accessible to a personal computer, terminal, or workstationat a remote location. In FIG. 1 the server 30 is connected by a modem 32to access an external or local communication network. The server 30makes the diagnostic information of the ultrasound system 10 availableto users connected to access the ultrasound system through acommunication network, such as the network shown in FIG. 2.

The server 30 is connected to the modem 32 through a serial port 31. Themodem 32 converts serial digital data from the serial port 31 intoanalog signals suitable for transmission over telephone lines. The modemalso translates incoming analog telephone signals into digital data forpassage through the serial port 31 and use by the ultrasound system. Asuitable modem is available from Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc.,which has established standards used by a number of modem manufacturers.

Communication with the modem 32 is established by software known as PPP(point-to-point protocol) software as shown in block 48 of the drawing.PPP is a standard that enables multiple network protocols to be usedover a modem line or other serial connection. Other standards can beused such as SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol), a standard thatpermits a communications protocol known as TCP/IP (discussed below) tobe used over a modem line or other serial connection, or CSLIP(Compressed Serial Line Internet Protocol), a specialized form of SLIP.After the PPP software has been installed in the ultrasound system, itmust be initialized or configured for the ultrasound system and modemwith which it is operating. Configuration information controls the PPPsoftware to be compatible with characteristics such as the serial portbeing used, the type of modem used, the phone line, host telephonenumber and dialing method, and login procedures and passwords. Ingeneral, the configuration information provides settings relating toinitiating a network connection, when a connection is initiated, andwhat happens after a connection has been established. PPP software isincorporated in some operating system software packages such as Windows95 from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. for IBM-compatible PCs.PPP software for Apple personal computers is available from InterConSystems Corporation of Herndon, Va., among others.

Communicating with the PPP software is a network protocol called theTCP/IP Internet Protocol Suite. TCP/IP is named after its two mostcommonly used protocols, the Internet Protocol (IP) and the TransmissionControl Protocol(TCP). The IP protocol controls the routing of data andthe TCP protocol controls the transfer of data. TCP/IP provides a commonmeans of interconnection through packet transfer devices known asgateways. A gateway is a specialized internetworking computer thatconnects two or more networks and routes packets of data between them.

When the ultrasound system has data it wishes to transfer over theInternet or other network, the data is passed to TCP/IP as shown inblock 46 of the drawing. TCP encapsulates data into segments called TCPpackets with header information that is used to track, check and orderthe data segments in the proper sequence. Since a block of data istransmitted over the Internet in discrete packets, individual ones ofwhich may be routed differently by gateways, there is no assurance thatthe packets will arrive at their destination in the proper order orwithout errors. The TCP packets provide a means of assuring packetdelivery, integrity, and sorting order. At the receiving end the packetsare checked for errors in accordance with the TCP packet headerinformation, error-free segments are acknowledged, and the packets areput in order to reassemble the original block of data. The sender keepstrack of segment acknowledgments, and if a segment is not timelyacknowledged the sender retransmits the packet. If a segment is lost oninitial transmission or received out of order, TCP holds the receivedsegments until all segments are accounted for at the received end, atwhich time they may be ordered in their proper and complete sequence forreassembly of the original block of data.

At the transmitting end, TCP packets are passed to IP, which puts thesegments into the form of IP packets or datagrams. The datagram containsan IP header which provides addressing information used by gateways toroute the datagram to its proper destination. The IP header contains thesource and destination Internet addresses to enable gateways to properlyroute the data, and the receiver to acknowledge receipt of the datagram.IP makes a best-effort attempt to deliver all datagrams, but does notassure their delivery. Assurance of delivery is provided by TCP throughacknowledgment and retransmission as described above.

Like the PPP software, the TCP/IP needs to be configured for theparticular ultrasound system and its environment. Typical configurationinformation for TCP/IP includes information on the type of local networkif the ultrasound system is locally networked with other ultrasoundmachines (e.g., Ethernet or token ring network), information as to theaddresses of other systems on the local network, the gateway address ifthe system is performing a router function, the user name of theultrasound machine and access password, the address of the servers onthe ultrasound system, the Internet address (IP address) for theultrasound system, and the default domain for the local network. LikePPP, TCP/IP software also comes with some system software packages suchas Windows 95, and is available for Apple computers from InterCon.

In FIG. 1 TCP/IP is connected to a local network medium, in this case anEthernet connection 50. The Ethernet connection 50 connects theultrasound system to other systems on a local network. The traditionalEthernet network uses a linear bus with carrier sense multiple accesswith collision detection (CSMA/CD). It is sometimes described by asimilar standard that uses an alternate frame format under IEEE 802.3.The Ethernet connection 50 may be used to access local area networks(LANs), wide area networks (WANs), IEEE 802.5 token rings, or othernetworking infrastructures. Data can be transmitted on an Ethernetnetwork at high speed (previously 10 Megabits per second; currentversions have speeds of up to 100 Megabits per second), with each systempermitted to transmit only when no other system is currentlytransmitting over the system.

Interacting with the TCP/IP and PPP network software is the HTTP server30. The HTTP server is a software program with which a Web browsercommunicates to access information from the ultrasound system. The HTTPserver responds to internal or external requests by displaying Web pagesof information and hypertext connections to additional Web pages andinformation such as ultrasound images and reports. The HTTP server alsoresponds to external requests to perform a specific action associatedwith a button or control on the ultrasound system, as described morefully in the parent application.

In response to external requests the HTTP server 30 transmits HyperTextMarkup Language (HTML) pages 34 to an inquiring Web browser. HTML pagesdescribe what the Web browser will display on the screen at the remoteterminal, including buttons, text, images, animated real time loops ofimages, sounds, and so forth. HTML pages may be directly encoded insoftware by following the instruction published in a number of referencetexts such as HTML and CGI Unleashed, by John December and MarkGinsburg, published by Sams.net Publishing, Indianapolis, Ind. SimpleHTML pages may be written using commercially available desk-toppublishing and word processing software, then encoded in HTML form usingsoftware known as the Internet Assistant or functionally similarsoftware, which may be downloaded through Microsoft's homepage atwww.microsoft.com. Alternatively, public domain software known as"Webmaker" may be downloaded from the Internet and used to make Webpages. Web pages contain HTML tags of data which describe how the pageis to be interpreted by a Web browser. Links to ultrasound image filesare provided by IMG tags in the Web page code. An HREF hypertextreference provides a means for linking to other Web pages on the sameultrasound machine, or to Web pages on any other host machine on thenetwork or Web. Once the HTML pages are created they are copied to theultrasound machine and their storage addresses provided to the HTTPserver. Whenever a remote terminal or browser asks to view a particularWeb page of the ultrasound machine, the HTTP server 30 is responsiblefor finding the page and sending its contents back to the requester.

The ultrasound system 10 includes a number of small executable programscalled Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programs as shown at 36. The CGIprograms provide an interface between the HTML pages and the hardwareand software of the ultrasound system. The CGI programs communicate withthe ultrasound system, asking the system to perform actions or providerequested information such as images, reports, or current status. In aconstructed embodiment the CGI programs respond to requests forinformation by dynamically creating custom HTML pages in which therequested information is embedded. The parent application illustratesthe operation of CGI programs that provide patient directories ofultrasound images and reports, display of a selected ultrasound image,general purpose programs that execute tasks in response to inputarguments, perform system diagnostics, and provide patient directoriesfor a number of ultrasound machines on a network. The CGI programs in aconstructed embodiment are stored on the ultrasound system's hard diskin a directory called "cgi-bin." In performing their operations the CGIprograms access ultrasound images and reports which are stored at 24,accesses and executes diagnostic routines stored at 28, and interactswith the controls of the ultrasound system through the ultrasound systemcontroller 18.

Alternatively, small program fragments can be embedded in the servercode and caused to execute based on CGI transactions.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, theultrasound system 10 includes a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP)server 102. The SMTP server 102 sends and receives electronic messagesby way of TCP/IP 46 over a local network or the Internet through anetwork connection such as Ethernet connection 50 or modem 32. The SMTPserver is connected to the ultrasound system controller 18 so as tointeract with the ultrasound system storage media, user interface, anddisplay. Software programs such as the Eudora electronic messagingprogram, which includes a POP3 client protocol for electronic messagereception and SMTP for transmission, can be employed, with the POP3client used to periodically poll a host system for received messages.The SMTP server 102 receives electronic messages and displays a noticeon the system display 70 by way of the system controller 18 whenmessages have been received by the ultrasound system 10. The messagescan then be accessed through the user interface using the keyboard 22,trackball 26, or Select Key 27 and shown on the system display 70.

In general, the POP3 client is used when another system functions as thehost system for message transmission and reception (POP host), and afull SMTP server implementation is used for permanent Ethernetconnections. Messaging can also be performed by the HTTP server 30,which can deliver messages by HTML pages and the HTTP protocol to otherlocations.

The electronic messaging capability provided by the SMTP server 102 canbenefit the ultrasound system operator in a number of ways. Theelectronic messages can attach any of the information stored on theultrasound system for transmission to interested parties, such asultrasound images, reports (or individual calculations), ultrasoundimage loops, system presets, user entered OB charts or formulas, systemerror logs, or any other information resident on the ultrasound system.Likewise, the operator can receive such information from other locationsand use it on the ultrasound system.

The ability to send electronic messages from the ultrasound systemallows the operator to easily consult with others quickly. Physicians atother locations can send messages to the ultrasound system which pertainto future exams to be performed on the system, providing reminders andimportant information which can guide an ultrasound exam. The ability tosend or retrieve system presets for a given exam enables the same examto be performed on ultrasound systems at other locations automatically,without having to manually set up a machine to try to duplicate an examdone elsewhere. An ultrasonographer who uses numerous ultrasoundmachines at different locations can store his or her preferred systempresets in a file on the ultrasound system or network server, which canthen be referenced in an electronic message or from an HTML page, andretrieved over the Internet or network for use wherever theultrasonographer happens to be performing ultrasound exams that day. Thebrowser can be used to download new or specialized user setups from thesystem manufacturer, and users can exchange system setups by way ofelectronic messaging. Similarly, specialized or preferred diagnostictools such as preferred OB tables or OB tables designed for a particularculture or country can be downloaded from a remote location.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, theultrasound system 10 includes a browser 100 which can communicate by wayof hypertext links with other sites (such as other ultrasound systems,servers and terminals) which have information of interest to theultrasound system user. The browser 100 comprises software which enablesthe ultrasound system operator to view hypertext documents (HTML pages)stored on a server remote from the ultrasound system or on theultrasound system itself. The browser 100 is connected to the ultrasoundsystem controller 18 so as to interact with the ultrasound systemstorage media and display, and to be operable by means of the userinterface of the ultrasound system. To "click" on a hypertext link of adisplayed HTML page, for instance, the user manipulates a cursor on thebrowser display with the trackball 26 or keys of the keyboard 22, thenselects the desired information with the Select Key 27 or the Enter keyof the keyboard. Browser software such as that which is available fromNetscape Communications Corporation of Mountain View, Calif. or theInternet Explorer browser available from Microsoft Corporationconveniently enable the ultrasound system operator to obtain images,reports, and other information over a local network or the World WideWeb of the Internet.

FIG. 3 illustrates further details of the operation of thesecapabilities. In this embodiment the browser 120 is compiled withsoftware code which steers received system preset data to theappropriate storage area of the ultrasound system, where it can beutilized by the ultrasound system controller to control the functioningof the system. When the operator uses the browser to access systempreset data from another ultrasound system or data storage device, thesteering code directs the received system preset data to scan parameterstorage 82, where it is stored as custom preset data. Alternatively, theoperator may download the custom preset data directly to scan parameterstorage 82 using the File Transfer Protocol FTP. When the operator isgiven the choice to select system setup parameters at the beginning ofan imaging procedure, the operator manipulates the user controls toselect this custom preset data rather than the standard preset data forthe procedure (sometimes referred to as "Tissue Specific Imaging™"setups) that is stored on the ultrasound system. The ultrasound systemcontroller 18 will then initialize the ultrasound system to performultrasonic scanning in accordance with the operator's custom systempresets, as indicated by the connections between the ultrasound systemcontroller 18 and the beamformer 16, signal processor 64, and displayprocessor 68 of the ultrasound system.

As another example, suppose that the operator wishes to use agestational age table designed specifically for a particularnationality, rather than one of the gestational age tables installed onthe ultrasound system. The system operator uses the browser 120 toacquire the desired gestational age table from outside the ultrasoundsystem and the steering code software stores the table in the diagnosticreport parameters storage medium 84 as a custom OB table. When theoperator is given an opportunity to select a gestational age table forestimating fetal age, the "custom table" option is selected, and theultrasound system controller causes the fetal age to be estimated usingthe gestational age table imported by the system operator.

Sending ultrasound image loops to other physicians enables a physicianat a remote location to participate in or make the diagnosis by viewingthe real time image loop that was acquired elsewhere. For referringphysicians, the diagnosing physician can image a patient and prepare areport on the ultrasound system, then send the images and report as anelectronic message or message attachment directly to the referringphysician from the ultrasound system using the system's electronicmessaging capability.

Electronic messaging from the ultrasound system is useful in analyzingproblems and questions of system performance. The ultrasound systemoperator can send the system error log to the system manufacturer, evenaccompanied by images acquired at the time of a problem, to enable themanufacturer to remotely diagnose system performance problems. Thisgreatly aids in isolating obscure problems which happen aperiodically oronly at certain locations, since the manufacturer can receive systemdata immediately at the time the problem arises.

The electronic messaging system can be configured to automaticallycapture system information when a problem occurs, such as the systemerror log, status and configuration, and to automatically send the errorlog to the manufacturer or repairman at the time of the problem. Themanufacturer or repairman can review these messages and theirinformation as they are received, and can notify the system operator ifthe information indicates that repairs or adjustments are needed to theultrasound system. The manufacturer can contact the ultrasound systemoperator by return electronic message or other medium to requestadditional information if such appears warranted or useful.

With each ultrasound system having its own electronic mailbox, themanufacturer can quickly and easily transmit bulletins about the systemdirectly to the system mailbox. Information on new applications,diagnostic tips, or setups can be sent by the manufacturer to itsvarious types of ultrasound systems (e.g., premium, midrange,cardiology, general imaging, digital, etc.) and used to improve previousapplications or to perform new ones.

In a preferred embodiment, each ultrasound system has its own uniqueelectronic message address for the sending and receipt of electronicmessages. It is preferable to relate the serial number of an ultrasoundsystem to the system's unique electronic mailbox address, for instance,for quick and unique identification of an ultrasound system and itsmailbox. The electronic mailbox is password protected so that access tomessages is limited to only those to whom the owner of the ultrasoundsystem has granted access permission. The data on the ultrasound systemcan be edited for security before transmission such as by deleting thename of the patient before transmission of images and reports. Higherconcerns for security can be addressed by encrypting data beforetransmission.

The browser 100 permits the ultrasound system operator to accessinformation about other ultrasound practitioners, enabling physicians toexchange ultrasound system electronic mail addresses with theircolleagues, for instance, which can lead to further exchanges ofdiagnostic information and other communications. The system manufacturercan organize a Web page, for instance, where system users can post theirsystem addresses and other information they want to make public amongtheir peers.

Electronic messaging can aid a hospital in determining user examdemographics and utilization. For instance, the ultrasound systemcontroller can be programmed to identify patient demographics andreports meeting certain criteria, such as women over age 40 who areundergoing an OB exam. At the conclusion of the exam the exam report andimages are automatically sent by electronic message to a central site inthe hospital such as a hospital information system where suchdemographics are kept or studies are being made of exams of that type,using prepared messages stored in the message library 122. The examscould also be automatically sent to the hospital specialist in that areaof practice, such as a perinatologist specializing in pregnancies ofwomen over age 40. Another useful feature to help a hospital manage itsultrasound resources is the automatic transmission to hospitaladministration each day or week of an electronic message containing thenumber of exams performed on the ultrasound system that day or week andthe length of time required for each exam, enabling a hospitaladministrator to update patient records and statements. Again, this maybe done by means of a previously prepared message stored in the messagelibrary 122. Alternatively, a CGI program can create an HTML pageperiodically with the desired information in it, and the page can beaccessed by the browser of a hospital administrator when the data isneeded.

Another use of the electronic messaging capability is to page physicianson call. In a constructed embodiment, depressing a button on theultrasound system causes the system to send a previously preparedelectronic message by modem 32 or network modem to a pager service inthe format used by the pager service. The message received by the pagerservice identifies the telephone number of the pager, and gives amessage to be sent to an alphanumeric pager, such as "Call Exam Room 7Re: Ultrasound Exam." Upon receipt of the message the pager servicesends the message to the pager of the physician who is on call in thehospital. The message may identify the ultrasound system and can alsoask the physician to call the system operator to assist in or make adifficult diagnosis, for instance. This capability enables anultrasonographer to quickly contact a reading physician when criticaldiagnostic decisions are needed.

The browser 100 enables the ultrasound system operator to access aremote library of baseline comparative ultrasound images in his or herpractice. Such ultrasound image libraries can be compiled by systemmanufacturers, universities, professional organizations, large hospitalsand clinics and others. The image library can be resident at other siteson the Internet or network, or may be locally available on a connectedserver, CD-ROM, or even the system's hard disk. If a physician isimaging pathology which is unfamiliar to the physician, the physiciancan access the image library through the browser 100. Reference imagesfrom the library can be called up and displayed on the ultrasound systemmonitor side by side along with the patient's pathology, enablingcomparisons to be made which can aid in diagnosis.

Such a capability is shown in FIG. 2, which shows two ultrasound systems200 and 202 connected to a hub 304 of an Ethernet network 300. Alsoconnected to the hub 304 is the terminal or workstation 302 of a networkadministrator, a reference image library 400 which includes a server404, and a hospital information system (HIS) or radiology informationsystem (RIS) 500 with a server 504. Each system on the network has amodem for connecting to other information sources, and the network alsohas a network modem 306 for communications into and out of the network300.

In the example of FIG. 2, the reference image library 400 is availableto both of the ultrasound systems 200 and 202 which are connected to thenetwork 300, and other systems may access the reference image library400 by way of the library modem 402 or the network modem 306. Thelibrary may be password protected to allow access only to users givingapproved passwords. When accessed, the library 400 presents HTML pageswith different exam categories, such as obstetrical, abdominal,cardiology, etc., on the browser of the user. Picking an exam categorybranches the operator to more detailed hierarchies of exams,pathologies, and conditions, or an operator can simply type in a stringof identifiers to take him directly to the type of images sought, suchas "obstetrical-fetal-head-trimester 3". In this manner the library userfollows an ever narrowing focus of choices until an image of the desiredpathology or condition is found, or directly access the type of imagesneeded. The ultrasound system operator pulls the desired ultrasoundimage into the ultrasound system, where it can be copied and pasted,either manually or automatically, on the display 70 alongside anultrasound image of a patient. The operator can compare the patient'simage with the reference image from the library to aid in making adiagnosis of the patient's condition.

It is also possible to store a local reference image library on theultrasound system for access by the system's browser as described above.The reference image library can be stored on any medium of theultrasound system that is accessible to the browser. In FIG. 1 thereference image library can be stored on a device which is a part ofstorage medium 24, enabling the browser 100 to access the referenceimage library by logging onto the server 30. In the example of FIG. 3,the reference image library is stored on a removable magneto-opticaldisk which is used on an M-O drive 80. By locating the library onremovable disk media, a new or updated library of images can be loadedonto the system at any time. As before, the browser 120 is used toaccess the image library on the ultrasound system through the server,and a branching path of choices is followed or an image type directlyaccessed, leading to the desired reference image. The reference image isthen used as a comparative image to aid in making a diagnosis fromimages obtained by the ultrasound system. The ability to displayreference images on the system is also useful in the training of newultrasound system users.

The browser 100 has a number of other uses which are important to theultrasound practitioner. The system user can use the browser 100 to viewultrasound images previously stored on the system. The browser does thisin the same manner as inquiries by external terminals, by logging ontothe server 30 to display the system's patient image directory on thesystem monitor 70. By connecting to remote sites by means of the modem32 or network connection 50 the browser can be operated to send imagesand reports to a remote location. The browser can also be used to accesshospital and radiology information systems 500 within the hospital ornetwork to view lab reports, physician schedules, and the like.

The browser 100 can be used for training and operation informationretrieval. Useful tips, system "help" messages, and even the operator'smanual for the ultrasound system can be stored electronically on thesystem such as on disk or a CD-ROM and can be accessed through thebrowser 100 to guide the operator in using the ultrasound system.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system whichproduces and stores diagnostic ultrasound images or diagnostic reports,comprising:electronic message software installed on said ultrasoundsystem; and means for connecting said electronic message software tosend or receive electronic messages to or from sources external to saidultrasound system.
 2. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim1, further comprising means for connecting said electronic messagesoftware to a network, whereby said ultrasound system can send orreceive electronic messages over said network.
 3. The medical diagnosticultrasound system of claim 2, wherein said means for connecting saidelectronic message software to a network further comprises TCP/IPsoftware.
 4. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 3,wherein said means for connecting said electronic message software to anetwork further comprises PPP software.
 5. The medical diagnosticultrasound system of claim 4, wherein said means for connecting saidelectronic message software to a network further comprises a modem. 6.The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein saidultrasound system further comprises a user interface for controlling theoperation of said ultrasound system,wherein said electronic messagesoftware is also operated by said user interface.
 7. The medicaldiagnostic ultrasound system of claim 6, wherein said user interfaceincludes an image display.
 8. The medical diagnostic ultrasound systemof claim 6, wherein said user interface includes a keyboard.
 9. Themedical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 6, wherein said userinterface includes a trackball.
 10. The medical diagnostic ultrasoundsystem of claim 1, further comprising:a library of electronically storedreference ultrasound images connected to said ultrasound system; andmeans for displaying said reference images on the display of saidultrasound system.
 11. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim1, further comprising:browser software installed on said ultrasoundsystem; and means for connecting said browser software to a databaseexternal to said ultrasound system, whereby externally stored images orinformation are remotely accessible through said browser software. 12.The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 11, wherein saidultrasound system further comprises a user interface for controlling theoperation of said ultrasound system,wherein said browser software isalso operated by said user interface.
 13. The medical diagnosticultrasound system of claim 1, further comprising:browser softwareinstalled on said ultrasound system; and means for connecting saidbrowser software to a source of reference images external to saidultrasound system, whereby externally stored reference images areremotely accessible through said browser software.
 14. The medicaldiagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said electronic messagesoftware comprises means for sending a page,whereby individuals may bepaged from said ultrasound system.
 15. The medical diagnostic ultrasoundsystem of claim 14, wherein said electronic message software comprisesmeans for sending an electronic message to a paging service.
 16. Themedical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 15, wherein said means forsending an electronic message comprises means for sending a message in aformat designed for sending a paging message to a paging service. 17.The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 14, further comprisingmeans for storing prepared paging messages,wherein a prepared pagingmessage may selected by a user for transmission by said electronicmessage software.
 18. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim1, wherein said means for connecting comprises means for connecting saidelectronic message software to a hospital information system,whereinelectronic messages may be sent over said hospital information system bysaid electronic message software.
 19. The medical diagnostic ultrasoundsystem of claim 18, wherein said electronic messages compriseinformation concerning usage of said ultrasound system.
 20. The medicaldiagnostic ultrasound system of claim 19, wherein said electronicmessages comprise information for patient records or statements.
 21. Themedical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said means forconnecting comprises means for connecting said electronic messagesoftware to a network,wherein information regarding use of saidultrasound system may be sent to a system operator over said network.22. The medical diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 21, wherein saidinformation comprises information useful in the conduct of an ultrasoundexamination of a patient.
 23. The medical diagnostic ultrasound systemof claim 21, wherein said information comprises system setupinformation.